Buying Guide to Laptop Computer Cases

Whether you want a compact, sleek portfolio style case for your laptop, or a full blown ‘Office in a Bag’ rolling laptop suitcase, you will want to carefully select the case that is right for you. For example, my first laptop case cost over $100 – and didn’t fit my Widescreen HP Laptop! Wasted time, effort and money! My second rolling case…well, let’s just say that one didn’t work out either. After loading up my laptop and all its many accessories, including my Canon i90 printer, I couldn’t even close it all the way, and when I finally got it closed, it was so unwieldy and the handle so short that I looked like a bumbling Hunchback of Notre Dame tripping my way through the airport!

So, what DO you look for in a laptop case? You need to know how big your laptop is, how wide is the screen and also how deep (thick) it is, what accessories you are likely to carry (i.e., Printer, digital camera, power adapter set, scanner stick, etc.), and, most importantly, your comfort level – do you need a rolling cart or would a backpack style laptop case work best for your needs?

Busy, mobile executives may need a larger rolling case, capable of carrying all their paraphernalia for a 3 day business trip across the ocean, while the active college student might want to jam her notebook in a backpack along with her textbooks and race across campus, trying to beat the bell.

My preference is a rolling suitcase type laptop bag. Several large and well-known companies make excellent and value priced cases. Do a little research through ebags.com, consumerreports.com, targus.com and even check out the office supply store websites. I ran into a terrific special on the case I had pretty much decided on at staples.com.